Bihar to streamline PDS

Patna, Jan 21 (PTI) Bihar government has decidedto ensure food security and streamline the Public DistributionSystem (PDS) making fortified flour available to BPLcard holders through PDS.

"We have taken steps towards ensuring food security andstreamlining the PDS making fortified flour available to theBPL households through PDS," state Food and Civil SuppliesMinister Shyam Rajak said today.

He said the PDS would now now work under supervision ofthe Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs).

The SDOs will be made accountable for any lapses orcomplaints pertaining to PDS, he said.

The state government would also introduce distribution offortified flour through PDS. "As a pilot project, the projectwill be implemented in two districts initially, Muzaffarpurand Vaishali where every ration card holder will be givennearly 13 kg of flour instead of 14 kg of wheat,+ Rajak said.

The minister said the government had also decided toentrust the task for procuring foodgrains to the state goodcorporation and increase the role of Primary AgricultureCredit Societies (PACS) in improving the PDS.